Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Well, last Saturday had a joyful experience.

Broke an axle, causing no brakes as i went down a gentle hill.

Finally locked up the remaining rear emergency brake and hit a curb and up onto a shoulder (whew close)Missed a huge van at the stoplight by inches but I got her shutdown.

So far I am winning....old axle out.....bearing off and new one pressed on new axle.....that's in place in the car. Long ways to go yet. Tow truck driver took the brakes apart so I have to sort that (haven't done those kinda brakes in 30 years). The drum survived, but the tire didn't.

What's a few tires......

What section of the axle shaft broke???? Is there any indication as to why it broke?????

You've got my sympathy, the only significant breakdown I've had on my 34 Eight in 45 years was breaking a rear axle; it broke just shortly after I got back from the 1999 Warren Centennial - could have been much worse - it could have broken while at Warren but I was just around the corner from home when it broke. Since it broke at about midpoint between the differential and brake drum I didn't loose my brakes or cause any damage to the wheel, drum and tire as they were retained in position by the wheel bearings and backing plate, but it didn't matter much as you don't need brakes when you can't go (and of course with mechanical brakes if you loose one wheel you still have brakes on the other 3). The break appeared to perhaps have been caused by a flaw in the original forging. Had a devil of a time getting a new one as, if I remember right that axle was specific to only the 33-34 Eights and right and left were different (lengths).

On my father's one-month 10,000-mile trip to 48 states in his 1930 speedster, his left rear axle broke near the end of the trip in Alabama. Before a new axle arrived, the axle had been welded at a farm machinery repair shop and installed. A delay of about a day's time during the trip. The repaired axle is still in the car after more than 10 years, with many more miles put on it.

What terrible luck! I would have never imagined a pre-war forged axle could have broken. I am even more surprised to hear more testimony of the same happening on other cars.

I guess Packard had some challenges with axle quality.

I guess I better hold on to my spares.

I am glad you and the Packard are ok.

Jim

I don't think Packard ever had a significant problem with axles, at least no more and probably a lot less than other makes, except for 1956 which of course were not of their own manufacture. But metallurgy back then was not what it is today, my Dad's late 20s Chevrolet broke an axle about once a month for a half-year before he sold it and swore to never again buy a piece of "Billy Durant's crap", a promise he stuck to for the rest of his life.

And let's not ignore metal fatigue from a half-century or more of use.

John,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune, glad to hear you survived the experience. Was Annet in the car at the time?

If there's anything I can do to assist please let me know.

No, Annet wasn't in the car, but I suspect she won't be as eager to drive it for a while.

The axle snapped right at the nut. One of my packard mentors suggested it had been over tightened, but I suppose I will never know for completely sure.

Actually, the boys in maintenance are going to drill, tap, and install a bolt in the old one so I will have a spare. Any negative thoughts from anyone? Won't cost me anything but the high tensile bolt. (helps to have a maintenace guy at work that has old cars plus the press, and the lathe, and all the extra tools).

Off to get the drum turned today. I am going to use the old seals as they look good. This model has the outer seal "built in" the retaining plate and Merritt wants 95US$ for the whole kit. Be easy to change later if they don't appear to be retaining the grease.

It's amazing how many thoughts and how many actions you can take in a couple of seconds if disaster looms.

I had the same thing happen to a 1946 Clipper 6 that I once owned and believe it was caused by the nut being too loose. I had noticed a rhythmic creaking noise when driving at low speed before it broke and was later told by an old time Packard mechanic that this was indicative of the nut not being tight enough. My tire was beat up a bit but the brake drum was trashed.

I concur with BDeB, axle breakage where the threaded shank extends from the taper is caused by the axle nut being too loose. I suppose the torque spec varied a bit over the years and i don't have one in front of me, but it was probably in the range of 200 pound-feet or more.